Branstad, who vetoed cash for university projects, holds up troubled school as higher ed's future

Jun. 25, 2013

Gov. Terry Branstad

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Gov. Terry Branstad, explaining his vetoes of planning money for new buildings at Iowa’s state universities, held up the University of Phoenix on Monday as an example of the need to consider more online learning.

Branstad last week vetoed $7 million for the planning and design of building projects at the three state universities. He said the state should secure the full cost of the projects, estimated at more than $140 million, before tax money is spent on plans and designs.

“I think we need to recognize that changes are taking place in the way people learn and rather than have a lot of buildings that are going to sit empty in future years, we need to really decide, are these absolutely essential,” he said Monday.

Among the projects vetoed include $2.5 million for a biosciences building at Iowa State University; $3 million for renovation of the Pharmacy Building at the University of Iowa and $1.5 million for the renovation of the University of Northern Iowa’s Schindler Education Center.

Branstad did sign $12 million to expand the research park at ISU.

Of course, the state should carefully consider the need for new buildings, particularly as the University of Iowa still faces significant costs for repairing flood damage.

But Branstad didn’t stop there. He pointed to University of Phoenix, a for-profit institution that offers campus and online degree programs in Iowa and around the country.

“I mean, there are institutions like the University of Phoenix that are educating, you know, hundreds of thousands of people without a lot of brick and mortar,” he said. “I’m not saying that’s the way all of education is going to be in the future, but I’m expecting a significant share of it will occur in (that) manner.”

University of Phoenix’s parent company reported in February that its accreditation might be put on probation because of problems with its administrative structure and governance, according to media reports.

State universities are making use of online teaching methods, and it’s safe to say there is room for improvement. But Internet colleges have a far different mission than our state universities.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, the chairman of the Iowa Senate Education Committee, said, “To the extent I’m aware — and I’m pretty aware — the for-profit sector does nothing in the way of scholarly research.”

He noted that the bioscience building at ISU would include classroom space, but also state-of-the-art labs, research space and seminar space for students to do pre-lab work.

The governor’s veto of planning and design money sets the project back at least a year, and that means the eventual construction cost will be higher, Quirmbach said.

“When it comes to doing laboratory research, you need to have the laboratory,” he said.

The education building at UNI is 40 years old, and the Iowa Board of Regents determined it needed renovation. Quirmbach said the veto sends a mixed message about Branstad’s stated priority of improving training for teachers.

“His vetoes undermine several of his main messages about what he says he wants to promote,” Quirmbach said.

Branstad should exercise his judgment to refuse any project that he feels is unworthy.

In this case, however, he didn’t argue that any of the vetoed projects was unnecessary, but rather he made a blanket political statement.

Considering the most efficient options and technological advancements for delivering education is always appropriate and if Branstad isn’t satisfied with the Board of Regents’ planning process, he has the means to encourage changes.

But if he considers the University of Phoenix an example of the future of higher education, his argument crashes and burns.